Its hot. Its summer. Its National Tequila Day! (This Thursday July 24th to be specific). In my world, this means pretending to be poolside while sunbathing on my roof and knocking back some bright and sunny Tequila Sunrise Jello Shots!!! With all of goodness of the cocktail by the same name, its filled with gradient layers of OJ (that means you have these shots for breakfast), grenadine and loads of tequila. Enjoy the sunshine!

Summer is officially here and that means its time for 4th of July celebrations! Get patriotic with red, white, and blue jello shots. Minty, rummy, watermelon treats topped with cool and creamy vanilla ice cream garnished with blueberries will get your backyard BBQ or rooftop fireworks display off to a festive start. Have a happy Independence Day America!

Whomever came up with the idea to put cold ice cream over warm pie was one smart cookie. So its only fitting that I pay homage this culinary pairing with boozy, bite-sized, versions of the real deal. These super cute jello shots in tiny pie crusts are made with spiced apple juice, vodka, and topped with mini scoops of jiggly vanilla ice cream. This recipe would also work with whiskey or some of that homemade apple pie moonshine. These jello shots were served at a Memorial Day rooftop BBQ but, as American as Apple Pie, they would also make a festive 4th of July summer treat.

Contrary to popular belief, German chocolate cake did not originate in Germany, but was named for the American baking chocolate inventor Sam German. That, however, did not stop me from making these German Chocolate Cake pudding shots for a recent German themed birthday party at a German beer hall. Layered with chocolate pudding infused with cake flavor vodka and butterscotch pudding infused with rum and topped with shredded coconut, these pudding shots were erstaunlich lecker!

Cinnamon flavored whisky is all the rage at the moment and its my friend Katharine’s favorite bottle to bring to a party. So when she threw an end-of-winter party, I had to bring some Fireball Shots of my own… jello style! Akin to the Atomic Fireball candy we all chipped a tooth on as a kid, this jigglier, boozier version is all whisky and ginger ale. They were a smash hit at Katharine’s party and a fiery way to usher out the winter and welcome warmer weather. Happy Spring everyone!

DIY Shamrock Shake recipes are making the rounds on the foodie-interwebs this Saint Patrick’s Day season. And what could be better than NOT going to McDonald’s and instead making your own minty green treat at home?? Making your own minty green treat at home, adding some booze and gelatin to the mix, and turning out some amazing jello shots! Vanilla ice cream, milk, a hint of mint, and whisky make these shamrock shaped shots (say that 3 times fast) special. Not into whisky? Vodka will do, as will peppermint schnapps (leave out the mint extract). Go nuts, and have a happy St. Patrick’s day!

Mardi Gras starts this Tuesday! So before you go giving up anything for Lent, why not partake in some indulgent jello shots. Modeled after the traditional Mardi Gras King Cake, these tiny, crown-shaped treats are made with sweetened condensed milk, cake flavored vodka and a hint of lemon. Have a happy Fat Tuesday!

This food appreciation holiday sneaks up on me every year…. and yes, this is a real thing. A week that apparently also celebrates pizza and frankfurters with sauerkraut. And, as much as I love pizza, I won’t subject you to mozzarella and tomato aspic topped with mushrooms and onions… or worse, sauerkraut suspended in lemon jello, which is also a real thing. Instead, raise a glass with some jello from my book Hello Jell-O!; Raspberry Cosmo Jello with cranberry juice, triple sec, and vodka.

Valentine’s Day is next Friday and its the kickoff to President’s Day weekend. What better way to celebrate your someone special or your favorite founding father than with some super cute jello shots! Pistachio pudding and a generous dose of vodka comprise the stem of the cherry shaped jello shot which is topped off with a red maraschino cherry. The resulting flavor is sweet and creamy, with a little boozy boost.

It’s summer! The arrival of the warm weather coincided perfectly with the first official day of summer and that means Fourth of July celebrations are right around the corner. For this year’s rooftop BBQ and fireworks display I made festive Star Spangled jello shooters. Vodka or rum liven up mini jello stars layered with blueberry, vanilla ice cream, and fun sprinkles! Have a happy 4th!

Spring has finally arrived in Brooklyn and it is time for outdoor gatherings. Served at a fancy garden party to celebrate the engagement of Art & Marty, these bourbon jello shots are sweet and sophisticated. Made with delicious Honey Bourbon and peach puree, these were the perfect refreshing summer treat. Congratulations to Art & Marty!

April showers, bring May flowers, right? That would be true except this spring has been so unseasonably cold that every time we have a warm day and I think spring is finally here, it gets cold again and the flowers refuse to bloom. Never-the-less, June is almost upon us and it’s time for Memorial Day weekend cookouts! So I present you with May Flowers jello shots. Made with a generous dose of St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, gin, and grapefruit juice, these shots are flowery, sweet, and a little tart. Have a safe and warm holiday weekend!

Spring is just now starting to show itself here in Brooklyn and Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner. Celebrate this holiday of Mexican heritage and pride with some little cactus shaped margarita jello shots. These are made with silver tequila, triple sec, and lime juice, and are garnished with a little Twizzler cactus bloom. These jello shots will be enjoyed this weekend at a Cinco de Mayo rooftop party.

To help celebrate Easter at Katharine’s Easter Champagne Brunch party this weekend, I concocted these little Cadbury Creme Egg inspired jello shots. Jello jiggler style chocolate eggs cut from a tiny egg shaped cookie cutter are spiked with a generous amount of Irish Cream and topped with a sweetened condensed milk yoke. These super fun little treats are sure to be a big hit. Have a Happy Easter!

It wouldn’t be St. Patrick’a Day without some green jello shots! For this year’s drunken festivities, I decided to take it a step further with these little Peppermint Pattie treats. Made with sweetened condensed milk and sitting atop a chocolate wafer, Peppermint Schnapps give these mini jellos their flavor and a little kick. Check out the recipe to make your own and don’t drink too much green beer this weekend!

Nothing says loving like some jiggly jello. Impress your date this Valentine’s day with this tasty, boozy treat. Alternating layers of white chocolate and strawberry spiked with whipped cream flavored vodka is sure to put your sweetie in the mood. Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sadly the holidays are over and now all we have to look forward to is a long, cold winter… and jello! An adult version of the classic childhood favorite, this pudding from scratch is made with ripe banana, sweetened condensed milk, and a splash of bourbon. Spiced with cinnamon and garnished with mini vanilla wafers, the flavor is sweet and warm. This dessert is perfect for keeping warm during those longer winter months.

Ring in the New Year with sparking champagne, fizzy ginger ale, and sweet strawberries. A favorite from my book Hello Jell-O!this unconventional celeabratory treat is sure to please. Check out The Recipe Club for the recipe and have a Happy New Year!

According to New York Magazine, pumpkin is the new bacon and the Pumpkin Spiced Latte is really trending this fall. With the return of Starbucks’ seasonal favorite and slew of imitation recipes making the rounds, I decided I best jump on the bandwagon and make my very own pumpkin spice latte jello. More like a custard than a jello, it is made with milk, pumpkin, and coffee. Allspice and cinnamon give it a cozy, warm flavor and whipped cream rounds it out. And best part is that 4 servings of this jello mold will cost you less than a trip to Starbucks. Happy Fall and Happy Halloween!

Though I consider myself a New Yorker, I was born and raised in the South and this twist on the classic southern cocktail takes me back to my southern roots. Like the traditional cocktail often served at the Kentucky Derby, this jello mold is made with sweet mint and bourbon. Tart blackberries balance out the sweetness and create a surprisingly cool and refreshing treat perfect for relaxing all day on the front porch of your southern farmhouse. Or if you’re like me, on the roof of your apartment building. I wrote this recipe especially for the Cooking Channel where you can find the recipe complete with process photos.